BRAZIL JULY 2024
BRAZIL - 30th OCTOBER to 12th NOVEMBER 2022 - Blue Macaw Tour No.1
Would you like to join Steve Brookes on a very special trip to Brazil with a chance to see up to 21 species of parrots of which 8 are Macaws including Lear’s Macaws (approx. 1800 in the wild) and the Hyacinth Macaw (approx. 5000-6000 in the wild) along with many other Brazilian Birds and wildlife as we travel through a part of the state of Bahia and the Pantanal in this stunning South American country (full parrot list below).
Throughout this trip we are likely to see in excess of 200 bird species with many opportunities to photo, video or just observe them in their Natural Habitats.
We also have chances of some rare mammals such as the Giant Anteater and Giant River Otter with a very outside chance of Jaguar as we travel on the river in the Pantanal plus snorkelling in the Rio Prata likened to swimming in an aquarium.
In all a unique journey with many exciting encounters around every corner. In previous years we have seen about 400 Lear’s Macaws (about a quarter of their entire wild population) all together flying directly over us as well as Hyacinth Macaws everyday in the Pantanal.
This will be a very popular trip and places will be limited.
I will be doing this trip twice in a row (back-to-back)
to accommodate as many people as possible.
Would you like to join Steve Brookes on a very special trip to Brazil with a chance to see up to 21 species of parrots of which 8 are Macaws including Lear’s Macaws (approx. 1800 in the wild) and the Hyacinth Macaw (approx. 5000-6000 in the wild) along with many other Brazilian Birds and wildlife as we travel through a part of the state of Bahia and the Pantanal in this stunning South American country (full parrot list below).
Throughout this trip we are likely to see in excess of 200 bird species with many opportunities to photo, video or just observe them in their Natural Habitats.
We also have chances of some rare mammals such as the Giant Anteater and Giant River Otter with a very outside chance of Jaguar as we travel on the river in the Pantanal plus snorkelling in the Rio Prata likened to swimming in an aquarium.
In all a unique journey with many exciting encounters around every corner. In previous years we have seen about 400 Lear’s Macaws (about a quarter of their entire wild population) all together flying directly over us as well as Hyacinth Macaws everyday in the Pantanal.
This will be a very popular trip and places will be limited.
I will be doing this trip twice in a row (back-to-back)
to accommodate as many people as possible.
PRICE of Parrot Watching Eco-tour.
$6700 per person sharing a double/twin room $600 single supplement DEPOSIT $1800 Balance to be paid 45 days before the start of the trip. Includes all accommodation, meals (from dinner on 30th October to breakfast on 12th November), water, English speaking local guide, all ground travel within Brazil, boat trips, visits to Buraco das Araras, snorkeling on the Rio Prata, a full morning with the Hyacinth Macaw Project, visits to the Lear's Macaw Conservation Projects and all permissions and entries into national parks. NOT included:- International and internal flights, insurance, drinks, souvenirs, tips, any additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary. 
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ITINERARY
30th October 2022 Arrive in Brazil – this is usually an overnight flight so you would start late afternoon on the 29th October from your country of origin. It is normal to arrive in Sao Paulo followed by an internal flight to Paulo Afonso with a transfer to our hotel. Depending how early we arrive in Paulo Afonso we may have some time to go to some local cliffs where a small population of Lear’s Macaws live. Overnight Paulo Afonso 31st October If we didn’t have time to look for the Lear’s Macaws on the previous day then we will check out the cliffs this morning and back to Paulo Afonso for our lunch. After lunch we will look for the Lear’s Macaws where they are feeding. Lear’s can travel many miles to feed however the Lear’s Macaw Conservation team will be monitoring them as when they feed, they usually feed for several days at the same place with groups of up to 60 individuals. We could be seeing them creating some of the damage they do to the farmer’s corn-cob crops but hopefully see them eating their natural food source the Licuri Palms. As well as the Lear’s Macaws we are also likely to see Cactus Conures, Blue-winged Parrotlets and Blue-fronted Amazons in this area. Overnight Jeremoabo 1st November Today we will watch the Lear’s Macaws feeding again. We will also be visiting a place where conservation work is being carried out for the Lear’s Macaws which includes planting Licuri Palms, the favoured food of these Macaws. At the end of the day, we will be transferring to Canudos for our evening meal followed by an overnight at the Lear’s Macaw Lodge in Canudos. This lodge is next to the sandstone cliffs where the Lear’s Macaws roost and nest. Overnight Lear’s Macaw Lodge, Canudos 2nd November A very early morning start (about 03.30 – 04.00am) to reach the top of the cliffs to wait for the Lear’s Macaws to wake up then in the distance a buzzing sound like a swarm of bees develops into the calls of hundreds of Macaws as they come up over the edge of the cliffs and fly in a kind of slow-motion circling above us for some time before eventually flying off to their feeding grounds. We photo and video these magnificent Macaws as they fly and sometimes perch in the trees around where we are standing. After this we will go to the top edge of one of the valleys where there will be some Lear’s Macaws still in their sandstone cliff nests rearing the last of their soon to fledge youngsters. Then it will be back to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast we will walk down the valleys near the lodge where we should see Blue-crowned Conures. Cactus Conures, Blue-winged Parrotlets and Blue-fronted Amazons. In the late afternoon we will drive to a roost and nesting site for Blue-winged (Illiger’s) Macaws before driving back to Canudos for dinner. Overnight Lear’s Macaw Lodge, Canudos 3rd November Another very early morning at the cliff tops watching the Lear’s Macaws as they awaken – well we have got to see this spectacle one more time before we leave, it’s so good. We will also have the chance of watching the remaining few Macaws from the top of the valley We reluctantly leave these Macaws and travel further west towards Juazeiro watching for parrots and all wildlife as we drive. Overnight Juazeiro 4th November Today we have a searching day for all the Parrots in this area which could include Cactus Conure, Blue-winged Parrotlets, Blue-winged Macaws and Blue-fronted Amazons. Overnight Juazeiro 5th November A new day will take us onto a new destination as we take an internal flight from Petrolina to Campo Grande. We should arrive early enough to be able to visit some of the Macaw nesting sites within Campo Grande City. Over 400 active nests for Blue and yellow Macaws have been found and are being monitored in the city as well as many other Macaw species including some naturally occurring Green-winged x Blue and yellow Hybrids. Overnight Campo Grande 6th November Leaving Campo Grande we excitedly make our way towards the Pantanal and arrive at our lodge for the next 4 nights, Pousada Aguape just in time for lunch. Who will spot the first Hyacinth Macaw either flying or in one of the roadside palm trees. Each day after lunch we will have time to ourselves for siesta, a swim in the pool or check out the wildlife local to the lodge (it’s a very hot time of day so not much wildlife will be about until later in the afternoon). After our break we will be taking a walk around the lodge grounds and hopefully have our first close encounter with the Hyacinths as well as many other birds and wildlife including parrots such as Blue crowned and White eyed Conures. Other birds will include Jabiru Storks, Tanagers and with some luck the Toco Toucan. Overnight Pousada Aguape 7th November Morning walk where we shall see some of the birds mentioned previously plus a few more such as Blue-fronted Amazons, Monk and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets as well as woodpeckers, woodcreepers and with some luck the lovely Rufous-tailed Jacamar. PM: We will do a Photo Safari by car, when, besides birds we might find some animals such the Marsh Deer and Giant Anteater. Overnight Pousada Aguape 8th November Morning Forest walk in a different habitat in search of different species of parrots such as Yellow-collared and Red-shouldered Macaws, and Scaly-headed (Maximillian’s) Pionus Parrots as well as more birds and mammals. PM: Boat ride, when we might see lots of Kingfishers, Heron, Caimans, and with some luck Giant River Otters. Overnight Pousada Aguape 9th November This morning we will be joining the Hyacinth Macaw Project Team as they show us the work that they do PM: We will be doing another Safari by car, with the hope of finding possible missing birds and mammals. We should stay out long enough to do some night driving in search of nocturnal animals and birds. Overnight Pousada Aguape 10th November An early morning visit to the edge of the river where we should find the Blaze-winged Conures. Usually in a group these Parakeets are an amazing encounter After breakfast we will check out and Transfer to Bonito Afternoon visit to Buraco das Araras. Buraco das Araras is a huge sandstone crater, a geological formation resulting from the collapse of boulders creating this enormous cavity of about 500m in circumference and 100m deep located in the middle of the cerrado in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. It is home to a wide variety of birds, especially Araçari toucans and Green-wing Macaws, hence the name of the cave. The crater is part of the 29-hectares Private Reserve of Natural Heritage (RPPN) and is connected to the RPPN Rio da Prata with 307 hectares. Back to Bonito to our hotel to overnight We may be in time to see the return of the Orange-winged and Blue-fronted Amazons to their roost site within the town., 11th November Another visit to Buraco das Araras but this time in the early morning to see the different activities of the Macaws and Parrots that are here and hopefully see some more species Late morning we will have a tour of the Rio da Prata with a snorkelling experience not to be forgotten – it is said to be similar to swimming in an aquarium. In the grounds of Rio Prata there are also some Parrots including Green-winged Macaws, Peach-fronted Conures, White-eyed Conures and the very rarely seen Yellow-faced Parrot After lunch we will be travelling back to Campo Grande Overnight Campo Grande 12th November Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and therefore today we have to transfer to the local airport and after a short internal flight we take our International flights home with all our Memories and Photos/Videos of all that we have seen. What will have been your highlight of this amazing journey??? – the Lear’s Macaws will take some beating on any trip!!! 
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Parrots which are possible on this trip
Hyacinth Macaw – Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus Lear’s Macaw – Anodorhynchus leari Blue and Yellow Macaw – Ara ararauna Green-winged Macaw – Ara chloropterus Blue-winged Macaw – Primolius maracana Yellow-collared Macaw - Primolius auricollis Red-shouldered Macaw - Diopsittaca nobilis Blue-crowned Conure – Thectocercus acuticaudatus White-eyed Conure – Psittacara leucophthalmus Nanday Conure – Aratinga nenday Peach-fronted Conure – Eupsittula aurea Cactus Conure – Eupsittula cactorum Monk Parakeet - Myiopsitta monachus Blaze-winged Conure – Pyrrhura devillei Blue-winged Parrotlet – Forpus xanthopterygius Yellow-chevroned Parakeet – Brotogeris chiriri Scaly-headed Parrot – Pionus maximiliani Orange-winged Amazon - Amazona amazonica Blue-fronted Amazon – Amazona aestiva Yellow-faced Parrot – Alipiopsitta xanthops Please note:- I cannot guarantee seeing all or any of these Parrots however we will have a great guide to help us in every way possible. We will see lots of other bird and animal species. 
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